Printing press



July 26. 1927.

R I o Q 2% e I 1,636,917 R. R. MCCORMICK PRINTING PRESS Filed J l 1926at Q 2 SheesSh 1 06975 2? Car/726M: %7 [L2 J Q 4 July 26, 1927.1,636,917

R. R. M cbRMlcK PRINTING PRESS Filed my 19. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented July 26, 1927.

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Application med m 19, ma Serial at. name.

This invention relates to printing presses such as are used to printlarge newspapers, for example, where numerous variations of page andsection associations may be required to meet the conditions of pract calnewspaper production, which involves the utilization of differentnumbers and combinations of printing units, or couples, for differentissues and editions and as may be required toaccommodate growth andexpansion of the paper. The invention conta n plates in this regard theuse'of an infinite number of printing units arranged in a row and havingappropriately inters rsed folding mechanisms and perfecting evicesassociated therewith, as shown and described in my former Patent No.1,581,132, and provides, in combination therewith, an arrangement ofsupplementary printing units and associated web turning and idingmechanisms adapted to increase t e capacity of the press, both as tototal delivery and as to variety of combinations of printingunits,

rendering possible greater flexibility of page associations andgroupings in sections of desired size and number. I

To this end, the supplementary printing units and associated mechanismsare so related to the units, 'folders,'etc., in the con tinuous line orrow, as shown in my former patent, that the webs therefrom may be fed bydevices provided for the purpose to particular or selected folders inthe line, the" arrangement preferably being such that the supplementaryunits are disposed laterally of the line in close proximity thereto andwith their cylinders extending at right angles to those of the units inthe line, the complete press, consisting of the main line andsupplementary units, being divisible into a variable series of groups,the units of which feed their webs to a common folder without passingany other folder'inthe press.

It is also within the purview of the invention to so relate the outsideunits to those in the line that maximum capacity may be obtained withthe smallest possible floor space, it being obvious that the item offloor space is a factor of considerable importance in the cost ofproduction of newspapers in large cities where ground values are veryhigh and adjacent space for expansion often unavailable.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be a arentas it is better understood from the fbilowing description,

which, taken in connection with the accomanying drawings, discloses apreferred em- OdllIlGXltthIGO 4 1 a Referring to the drawings, y I Fiure 1 is a-largel diagrammatic view, in si e elevation, of a rintingpress inwhich my invention is embo ied, the same illustrating avarietyof combinations. ofpage and section associations which are madepossible by the invention;

Fig. 2 is atopplan view of the apparatus shown in Fig.1;I 'Fi 3 is aview similar to Fig.1,showing ilferent combinations of printing units orcouples and a different mannerof use of the foldingmechan'isms; Y

, Fig. i is an end elevation, also diagrammatic, of the .press shown inthe preceding figures; and I a Fig. 5 is an enlargedsectional andelevational view of one of the groups of printing units and associatedmechanisms, the group, as shown, comprising a double octuple. a In theillustrative embodiment of the invention shown on the drawings thereference character 41 indicates a frame, which is relatively elongatedand ada ted-to support the printing mechanism "an associated de-. vices,which ,will be presently described, said frame being supported uponposts 42 and 1 preferably arranged to rest upon the floor i of a pressroom beneath which, in a basement or sub-level, the paper rolls 43 aremounted, the latter, as shown, being arranged in groups of three uponreels carried by a shaft 44, which *are journaled in uprights 45. Aplurality of printing units or couples, numbered 1 to 30 inFig. 3 of thedrawings, are accessiblyarranged 'uponthe frame. 41. and each thereofcomprises impression cylinders 46 and 47 and printing cylinders48-and49, the web being adapted to be directedfrom a roll 43; in thebasementover guiding rolls 51 52 and 53, the latter being'above the bedof theframe and being disposed centrally between the rollers 48- and 49-sothat the web may be directed .in eitherdirection so as tobe first actedupon by one printing cylinder or the other, as may be desired. The web,which is indicated by the reference character 54, after passing theguide roller 53, is fed between one printing cylinder and associatedimpression cylinder, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the'drawings, andthence downwardly around the other impression cylinder and upwardlybetween the printin evident t der, afterwhich it is'guid about a plural;

ity of guide rolls 55, suitably arranged upon the frame and adapted todirect the printed I web from the printing units or couples to thefolders which are marked 1st to 7th,in elusive, on the drawings, thesefolders being arranged between certain of'th'e' printing units and on acommon level therewith, the arrangement being such as to render possiblethe most effective grouping of the units to produce the pageassociations andsection arrangement which I have found desirable innewspaper after more ful appear. The folders, like units or couples, areonly diagrammatica ly shown, and it will be noted that, as shown, theycomprise superimposed pairs of formers, indicated res ctively by thereference characters 56 and 57, one or both of which may be utilized,the use of both pairs being illustrated in Figs. 1 and of the drawingsand the use of only one pair bein illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be atwhen both pairs are used, a greater variety of section associations ispossible, the sections formed in the upper formers being adapted to beinterfolded with the sections formed in the lower formers in widelyvarying arrangement as to numbers ofsections and of pages in a section.The

printing cylinders are ordinarily adapted to carry two platescircumferentially and four lengthwise, so that each printing couple iscapable of producing sixteen separate pages,

or eight pages when the plates are arranged two on, i. e., so that eachsheet is duplicated in the couple. The results which may be obtained bydi erent groupings of the units will be indicated at a later point inthe descri tion.

w 58 are directed over properly arranged guide part of the apparatusheretofore described is substantially the same as that shown in my priorpatent above referred to, and I shall now proceed to describe thesupplementary printing units and associated devices andto point out themanner in which the may be'combined with the above-described mechanismto produce greater flexiility and capacity of'the press Saidsupplementar units are indicated, respectively, y the re erencecharacters 31 to 40, incluslve, the arrangement being such that twounits may be associated with each group in a line when the latter arearranged in double sextuples, the addition of the laterally disposedunits making of each group in this arrangement a double octuple, asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings. The webs ing rollers 55 andturning bars arranged above the printing units in the line, with theresult indicated at 59 in Fig. 2, from which it will be apparent thatthe incoming web is turned from transverse to longiciated.

"Fig, 4, the laterally are disposed stead of transversely, =asinthe caseof the other units. associated with afparticular folder are diprintingand as will hereiny .from the press to tudinal direction and directed tothe folder of the group with which the unit is asso- As will bea'pparentfrom viewing disposed units are similar 1n construction tothose arranged in the line,but the printing and impression rollslongitudinally of the line in- The webs from the several units rectedover. a' common guide roller 61, and it is to be. understood'that.suitable slitting and delivery devicesj'are. provided so that the papersare rapidly formed and delivered appropriate; points for mailing orlocal distribution.

It will be noted that the folders are arranged between the 3d and 4th.the 9th and 10th, the 12th and 13th. the 15th and 16th, the 18th and19th, the 27th and 28th units, and that when grouped uniformly, as shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the webs from three units on each side of the 1st,2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th folders, together with the webs from theassociated laterally disposed units, are directed into the foldersindicated. Suitable driving mechanism for the printing units andassociated devices is, of course, provided, though not shown on thedrawings since the construction and operation of the mechanismdiagrammatically illustrated willbe well understood by those skilled inthe art.

Great flexibility of page association, as well as greatly enlargedcapacity, is provided by the press of my invention. With the unitsgrouped in the double octuple arrangement shown in. Figs. 1, 2 and 5 ofthe drawings, each group is capable of producing two complete papers ofsixty-four'pages each, which may each be associated in sections ofthirty-two pages, or, when both upper and lower formers are used, anyeightpage variation thereof. In Fig. 3, I have illustrated a variety ofdifferent aggroupments, the first and last groups each comprising sixunits in the line and two of the laterally disposed units, making doubleoctuples, the second and third groups each comprising three units in theline and one from outside, making octuples, the fourth group comprisingthree units in the line and two outside, making a decuple, the fifthgroup comprising five units in the line and one outside, making a double.sextuple, and the sixth group comprising four units in the line and oneoutside, making a dccuple. Manifestly. variousother aggroupments arepossible, the number being increased by omitting certain unitsifdesired. and if single or three-quarter width webs. instead of doublewidth webs. are used, still greater flexibility is rendered possible,inasmuch as the sections may be arranged in variations of two or four,instead of eight pages.

sl-J

The increased flexibility of the press of the present invention isindicated by the fact that the following a'ggroupments of units areprovided forthe rst time, so far as I am aware,'witli the result thatthe capacity of the press not only is increased'from 48 to a 64 pagelimit, but the range of variation within this limit is correspondinglyincreased. As heretofore stated, the press, with the units grouped inthe double-octuple arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of thedrawings, is capable of roducing'per group two complete papers 0 64pages each. If one of the units of each of the groups, as shown in saidFigs. 1, 2 and 5, be left idle, a seven-unit grouping is obtained, withthe result thateach group produces two complete papers of 56 pages each,which is also a novel result of the present invention. Manifestly, theunits of the press, which are arranged in tandem, areicapable ofdivision into a succession of equal ups of four or five I or sixprinting units, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of myprior Patent No.1,581,132, and by the usev of the present invention the production ofthe press may be still further varied by directing the webs from one ormore of the units disposed outside the line to the folder of aparticular group in the line without changing the grouping of the tandemunits of the press. Thus a printing plant constructed in accordance withmy invention as specifically illustrated is capable of aggroupment ofthe units so that a succession of eight, seven, six, five or four equalgroups may be selectively utilized, which result is, not possible witthe press illustrated in my prior patent above referred to, or with anyother press known prior to my invention, so far as I am aware.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that certain of the webs fed tothe upper pair of formers are divided before reaching the common guideroller 61 and the se arate web portions 62 and 63 are arrange insuperimposed relationship by suitable turning bars and spaced guiderollers 55 interposed between the slitter and said common guide roller61, this arrangement indicating still further possibilities offlexibility in the page and section associations.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description. and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of-the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, or sacrificing all of its material'advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: I

1. A flexible unit printing press, comprising a row of printing unitsand folders arranged in a line on a common level and divisible into aplurality of groups the printing units of which are associated with asinglefolder, a plurality of printin units disposed laterally of saidline an individually associated with particular groups in the line, andmeans for 'directin the webs from said laterally disposed units to thefolders of the groups with whichthey are associated.

2. A flexible unit printing press, comprising a row of printing unitsand folders arranged in a line on a common level and divisible into aplurality of groups the printing units of which are associated with a.

single folder, a plurality of printingunits disposed laterally of saidline and indi-- vidually associated with particular grou s in the line,and means for directin the we s from said laterally disposed units tothe folders of the groups with which they are .associated, a pluralityof said laterally disposed units being associated with each group.

3. A flexible unit printing press, comprising a row of rintingunits andfolders arranged in a ine on a common' level and divisible into aplurality of groups the printing units of which are associated with asingle folder, a plurality of printing units disposed laterally of saidline and individually associated with particular groups in the line, andmeans for directing the webs from said laterally disposed units to thefolders of the groups withwhich they are associated, a pluralityof saidlaterally disposed units being associated with each grou and saiddirecting means comprising we 1 turning devices individualized to saidlaterally disposed units.

4. A flexible unit printing press, compris- I ing a row of printingunits and folders arranged in a line on a common level and divisibleinto aplurality of groups the printing units of which.are associatedwith a single folder, a pluralityof printing units disposed laterally ofsaid line and individually associated'wit-h particular grou s in theline, and means for directing the we s from said laterally disposedunits to the folders of the groups with which they are associated, saidline and associated printing units being divisible into a succession ofgroups each containing eight units and one folder.

5. A flexible unit printing press, comprising a row of printing unitsand folders arranged in a line on a common level and divisible into aplurality of groups the print-- ing units of which are associated with asingle folder, a plurality of printing units disposed laterally of saidline and individually associated with particular groups in the line, andmeans for directing the webs from said laterally disposed units to thefolders of 'the groups with which they are associated, said line andassociated printing units being divisible into a succession of roupseach containing eight units and one older to which the webs from saidunits may be fed Without'passing any other folder in theline. I I V 6;'A-flexible unit printing press, compris' ing a row of printingunits-and folders arranged in a line on a common level and divisibleinto a plurality of groups the print ing units of which are associatedwith a single folder, a plurality of printin units disposed laterally ofsaid line an individually associated with particular groups in the line,and means for-directing the we from said laterally disposed units tothe.

-- folders of the groups with which they are associated, the printingunits each comprismg a printing couple and theline and associated'unitsbein' ada ted to'be divided into a succession o equa groups each comprising a doubleoctuple. 7. A fiexible'unit' printing press, comprisinga row of printing units and folders arran ed in a line ona'commonleveland" divisible into a'plurality of groups the printingunits of which are associate with a single folder, a lurality ofprinting units disposed lateral y of said line and individuallyassociated with particular groups in the line, and means for directingthe webs from said laterally disposed unitsto the folders of the groupswith which they are associated,

said line and associated printing units being divisible into asuccession of groups each containing six line I units, Ftwo associatedunits and one folder, the webs from all the printing units of an groupbeing fed to the older 0 without passing single f sai group any otherfolder in the line.

8, A flexible unit printing press, compris- 4 ing a row ofprintingunitsand folders ar ing ada ted to be divided into a succession ofequa grou seach com rising a double octuple, the we s from all t e printing unitsof anygroup-being fed to the single folder of said grou without passingany other folder in the ine.

9. A flexible unit press comprising a series of printing unitsaccessibly arranged in spaced apart relation on the same printing level,a web supply foreach unit, a plurality of folding un ts disposed on saidprinting level, said folding units being spaced apart anddisposedrelatively-to said printing units apart and so that the seriesof printing units is selectively divisible into a *pluralit of equalgroups of six, or seven, or eig t printing units, eachselected groupcontaining but a single folding unit and all of the printing units of agrou of any selected'series of groups feeding t eir webs to the foldingunit of that grou 10. A flexible unit press comprising 'a series ofprinting units accessibly arranged in spaced apart relation on the sameprinting level, a web so ply for each unit, a plurality of foldin unitsdisposed on said printing level, sai folding units being spaced apartand disposed relatively to said printing units .so that the series ofprinting units is selectively divisible into a plurality of equal groupsof eight printing units, each selected group containing but a singlefolding unit and allof the printing'units of a grou of any selectedseries of grou s' feeding t eir webs to the folding unit of t at group.

11. A flexible unit. press comprising a series of (printing unitsaccessibly arranged in space apart relation on the same printin level, aweb supply for each unit, a plu re ity of folding units disposed on saidprinting level, said folding units beingspaced apart and disposedrelatively to sai printing units so that the series of printing units isselectively divisible into a plurality of equal groups of sevenprintingunits, each selected group containing but a single folding unit and allof the printing'units of a roup of any selected'series of groups feed ngtheir webs to the folding unit pf that group.

12. A flexible unit press comprising a series of printing unitsaccessibly arranged in spaced apart relation on-the same printing level,a web supply for each unit, a plurality of foldingunits disposed on saidprinting level said folding units beingspaced disposed relatively tosaid print ing units sothat the series of printing units is selectivelydivisible into a equal groups of eight or less printing units, eachselected group containing but a single folding unit and all oftheprinting units of a group of any selected series of groups feeding theirwebs to the folding unit of that group.

13. In combination, a flexible unit press comprising a row of printingunits accessibly arranged in spaced apart relation on the same printinglevel, a web supply for each unit, a plurality of folding units disposedon said printing level, said folding units being spaced apart anddisposed relatively to said printing units so that divisible into asuccession of equal groups of four, or five,ior' six printing units,each selected group containing-buta single folding unit and allof theprinting units of a plurality of p 'the row of printing units isselectively group of any selected series of groups feeding their webs tothe folding unit of that group, and a plurality of printing units disposed outside said row and feeding their webs to said foldingmechanisms.

14. In combination, a flexible unit press comprising a single row ofprinting and folding units accessibly arranged in spaced apart relationon the same printing level, a web supply for each printing unit, saidfoldin units being distributively arranged in said row and between saidprinting units so that the row of printing units is selectivelydivisible into a succession of equal groups of four, or five, orsix-printing units, each selected group containing but a single foldingunit and all of the printing units of a group of any selected series ofgroups feeding their webs to the folding unit of that group whereby noweb from a printing unit is compelled to travel across an idle foldingunit, and a plurality of printing units disposed outside said row andfeeding their webs to said folding mechanisms.

15. In combination, a flexible press for printing newspapers and thelike comprising a supporting frame, thirty printing couples spacedthereon with their cylinders disposed transversely of and in a singlerow longitudinally of the frame and in a com mon plane, a plurality offolding mechanisms disposed on said frame in said plane and intermediatecertain of said couples, said folding mechanisms being disposed betweenthe third and fourth couples, and between the ninth and tenth couples,and between the twelfth and thirteenth couples, and be tween thefifteenth and sixteenth couples, and between the eighteenth andnineteenth couples, and between the twenty-first and twenty-secondcouples, and between the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth couples,guide-rolls on said frame for dlrecting the webs from said couples tothe folding mechanisms, and a plurality of printing units disposedoutside said row and feeding their webs to said folding mechanisms.

16. In combination, a flexible press for printing newspapers and thelike, comprising a supportlng frame, thirty printing couples disposed inspaced relation in a common printing level thereon with their cylindersdisposed transversely of and in a 7 single line or row longitudinally ofthe frame in the printing level and, pairs of'formers disposed on saidframe intermediate certain of said couples said pairs bemg disposedbetween the third and fourth couples, and between the ninth and tenthcouples, and between the twelfth and thirteenth couples, and between theeighteenth and nineteenth couples, and between the twenty-first andtwenty-second couples, and between the twenty-seventh and twentyeighthcouples, and guide rolls on said frame, said guide rolls and pairs offormers being constructed and arranged to direct the webs from certainof said couples to one or both of the formers of a pair or to one orboth of said formers of said pairs, and a plurality of printing unitsdisposed outside said row and feeding their webs to said foldingmechamsms.

17. A flexible unit printing press comprising a row of printing unitsand folders arranged in a line on a common level and divisible into aplurality of groups the printing units of which are associated with asingle folder, a plurality of printing units disposed laterall of saidline and individualy associate with particular groups in the line, andmeans for directing the webs from said laterally disposed units to thefoldersof the groups with which they are associated, said line andassociated printing units being divisible into a succession of groupseach containing eight units and one folder, and the press containingforty units whereby five groups of eight units, or a correspondinglygreater number of smaller groups into which the press may be divisible,may be selectively utilized.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name tothis specification.

ROBERT R. MoCORMICK.

